Fukuyama has penned a new op-ed, “The New American Imperialism” about Trump. It is surreal that the terms imperialism and colonialism have resurfaced, by a major liberal voice. It is personally surreal to me as this year marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.
It feels personally surreal that these are all happening on this special year, as I am familiar with the prevalent politics of discourses about the legacies of the Vietnam/American War and contemporary territorial disputes in Asia within Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
Until 2025, the prevalent judgement was that the legacies of the Vietnam/American War were bygone and irrelevant. Lessons about (unsuccessful) counter-insurgencies? Imperialism? Colonialism? “You are outdated, move on, the Cold War is over, the 20th century is irrelevant”.
Most intellectually complacently, these prevalent discourses rarely if ever raised the issue of concerns about enduring US excesses in the world, hegemony, and irresponsibility. The excesses have been treated as natural and negligible, no matter the millions of lives taken away.
Rightfully, as someone with ties to Vietnam, I have agreed with calls for emerging powers to act responsibly. But somehow, be it Trump or pre-Trump US, they all turn silent about breaches in intl’ law & calls for responsible leadership; even cheering for the violent excesses.
At this point, it’s just intellectually dishonest and complacent. This year is truly the time to re-reflect on the legacies of the Vietnam/American War in relation to the current state of global imperialist politics, from the East to West, as now Fukuyama even admits. /end
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